Belly press



' March 2, 1937. V Q TJWALTER 2,072,694

I BELLY PRESS Filed March 24, 1935 4Sheets-Sheet l wl'rness BY W flame.

ATTORNEY March 2, 1937. c. T. WALTER 2,072,694

BELLY PRESS Filed March 24, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 EFF/ R a? m 6}Charles]? H dZzez' INVENTOR ATTORNEY March 2, 1937. c, WALTER 2,072,694

BELLY PRESS Filed March 24, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 .37 90 i asCizarlesl'l lilzer INVENTOR I ATTORNEY C. T. WALTER March 2, 1937.

v BELLY PRESS Filed March 24, 1953 4 Shets-Sheet 4 Cizarles Z Walter.

INVENTOR ATI'ORNEY u 5 5 a a W I T N E 5 5 Jl- 11 W 3 W 4 9 8 a 5 WW 900w w m w w Patented Mir. 2, 1937 UNITED STATES BELLY PRESS ApplicationMarch 24, 1933, Serial No. 662,496

29 Claims.

The invention relates and is applicable to a press for general use.

The invention particularly relates to a press for compressing bacon.

According to the invention, there is realized a commercial and practicalmachine which is simple in operation, efficient, and strong, and inwhich the parts are arranged so as to simultaneously apply downwardpressure to a top por- 10 tion of a body being pressed or compacted,such as the large top portion of a bacon slab; lateral or transversepressure to a side or side portion of the body; and longitudinalpressure to an end or end portion of the body; with the result that 15the top and bottom faces of the body-as the bacon slabare flattened, andthe side and end faces thereof are straightened and squared, wherebywhen the body is removed from the press, it is in the defined form of awell shaped 2o rectangular parallelepiped.

The present invention, from certain aspects thereof, may be consideredas an improvement on a machine which is the basis of Patent No.2,046,366, issued June 9, 1936, to Joseph Bech and entitled Baconpress". v

According to the construction of the press disclosed insaid Bech patent,and also according to the construction of the press illustrated and'described in this application, there is employed in operativerelationship and arrangement, a lower supporting die or bottom plate; adownwardly-movable or depressible, longitudinallyextending,pressure-resisting or side-resisting plate; a downwardly-movable ordepressible, 35 transversely-extending, longitudinally-movableend-pressing plate; a longitudinally-extending, transversely-movable andlongitudinally-shiftable side-pressing plate; and a vertically-movable,top-pressing plate which is forced down- 40 wardly'during the pressingoperation toward the bottom or lower supporting plate but which ismounted sothat during its vertical movement it can shift longitudinallyand also transversely over the depressible side and end-resisting plates45 and also so that during its downward movement it moves verticallyalong the pressing surfaces of the side andend-p'ressing plates.

In the Bech patent and also in the present application, the arrangementis such that the de- 50 pressible end-resisting plate can shift in atransverse direction across but closely in respect to one end, to wit,the forward end of the depressible side-resisting plate; so that theend-pressing plate moves longitudinally along the supporting 55 plateand also along and in close relationship with respect to the depressibleside-resisting plate; so that the side-pressing plate can be movedtransversely across the supporting plate and along the end-pressingplate but so that the side-pressing plate can shift longitudinally with5 and as the end-pressing plate is moved longitudinally in a forwarddirection; and also so that an end of the end-resisting plate-whichend-resisting plate is shiftable in 'a transverse direction-ismaintained in close arrangement with respect to the side-pressing plateas the latter is forced in a transverse direction as the pressingoperation proceeds.

According to the specific disclosure of the Bech patent, thetop-pressing plate thereof is operated .by one power-operating cylinder,the side-pressing plate thereof is operated by another poweroperatingcylinder, and the end-pressing plate thereof is operated by a thirdpower-operating cylinder. According to the drawing of said Bech patent,each of these cylinders is separately controlled. According to thepresent invention, a common operating means is employed whereby as froma common operating cylinder or other common opcrating means, thetop-pressing plate, the sidepressing plate, and the end-pressing plate,are caused to automatically operate to effect a pressing operation bythe single movement of the piston within the single operating cylinderor by the single movement of a common operating member.

Also according to the present invention, certain floating levers areemployed whereby the desired degree of pressing effect is automaticallyrealized as the common operating member such as the pressing cylinderfunctions to effect the desired movements of the several pressing platesduring the pressing operation.

It is desirable in machines of this class to 40 have certainpredetermined dimensions for the resulting pressed product or body. IFor-example, it is desirable to press a bacon slab to a definitethickness and to a definite width so that when the bacon slabs aresubsequently subjected to slicing'operations, such as is common in thepacking industry or butchering business of today,

the resulting slices of uniform thickness will be of uniform weight,thus facilitating the realization of a standard weight of a package.

As a further example, it may be desirable to obtain six slices ofuniform thickness and area. in order to-provide a group of one-halfpound, and such a grouping is enabled and realized if thecross-sectional area of a baconslab is pro- PATENT orricsif duced by aproper pressing and shaping operation.

One object or aspect of the present invention relates to the provisionof a press with suitable stops, whereby the top-pressing plate and theside-pressing plate will each be automatically arrested as to itspressing movement when the desired slab thickness and width areobtained. However, the arrangement is such that even though thetop-pressing plate and the sidepressing plate have ceased to movebecause of the functioning effects of the stops, the endpressing platecan continue to move until the desired degree of pressure or pressingeffect has been realized on the slab or body as a whole being pressed.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in theconstruction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafterfully described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointedout in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that vlariouschanges in the form, proportion and minor details of construction,within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departingfrom the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

As illustrative .of a specific manner in which the invention may berealized, reference is made to the accompanying drawings forming a partof this specification.

Figure 1 is a vertical, longitudinal view, mostly in section,illustrative of a press that realizes the invention. Figure l is a viewtaken as on the vertical plane indicated by the broken line l-I ofFigure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the press but from this figure, there hasbeen omitted' the toppressing plate and certain of the operating andcarrying members therefor.

Figure 3 is a vertical, transverse, sectional view, taken as on theplane indicated approximately by the line 3-3 of Figure 2, looking inthe direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the top-pressing plate and of some of theoperating and carrying members therefor.

Figure 5 is a perspective view simplified to show the operation of thedevice.

The press comprises a main frame collectively designated as F, acollapsible and expansible pressing die collectively designated as PD,operating mechanism OM, and a power-operating means PM providing acommon operating means for moving the pressing plates of the pressingdie through the medium of the operating mechanism OM.

The press is also provided with a stop for limiting the downwardmovement of top pressing plate, which stop is sometimes meme- 1 to asthe top-pressing plate stop and is collec-K tively designated as TS.This stop is clearly indicated in Figure 1. The press is furthermoreprovided with a stop for limiting the transverse movement of theside-pressing plate, which stop is sometimes referred to as theside-pressing plate stop and is collectively designated as SS. Themembers constituting the important part of this stop SS are clearlyindicated in Figure 3, particularly when viewed in conjunction withFigure 2.

Frame The frame F of the machine comprises up- Pressing die I Thepressing die PD includes a lower horizontally-extending supportingmember or bottom die plate 6 which may be described as having asupporting surface thereupon which extends both longitudinally andtransversely, that is, in what may be termed the longitudinal directionof the press and in what may be termed the transverse direction of thepress. This bottomsupporting plate 6 is fixedly secured to the mainframe and is stationary, as is manifest from an inspection of Figures 1and 3. At the left-hand side of Figure 3, there is clearly indicated alongitudinally extending side-resisting plate I which is mounted inrespect to the bottom-supporting plate 6 in such a manner that theside-resisting .plate is depressible, that is, movable verticallydownwardly along the longitudinal edge of the supporting plate 6 as thepressing operation proceeds. This side-resisting plate is normallymaintained in its uppermost position under the infiuence of a coiledspring 8, the lower end of which spring is welded or otherwise fastenedto head 9 on a red I 0. The upper part of spring 8 is suitably welded orotherwise fastened to angle ll, tending to normally force thesideresisting plate 1 in an upward direction to its uppermost position.The arrangement of the parts just mentioned is manifest from an in-,spection of Figures 2 and 3. Further details of mounting thisside-resisting plate are illustrated and described in the Bech patent.The die press also includes an end-resisting plate l2 which is clearlyindicated and shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The end-resisting plate I2 is mounted in a slideway frame l3 which has afixed association with respect to the bottom-supporting plate 6. Thisframe I 3 has slidably mounted thereupon, so that the end-resistingplate l2 can shift in a transverse direction in respect to the press, acarrier member M from which there are supported rods l4 each of whichhas a head l5 at the lower end thereof for supporting the coiled spring8 that is relied upon to maintain the endresisting plate I! in itsuppermost position when allowed to do so, spring 8 being welded orotherwise fastened to member l4 and bolt head l5. This end-resistingplate I2 is depressible against the force of the spring as the pressingoperation proceeds and it may be described as the transversely-extendingvertically-depressible and transversely-shiftable end-resisting platewith which the die press is provided. This end-resisting plate I! ismaintained in close arrangement with respect to the forward end of theside-resisting plate 1 whereby the resisting plates are always incooperative arrangement with respect to each other. It will also benoted that the resisting plates 1 and I2 may be described as beingmaintained in cooperative relationship with respect to thebottom-supporting plate 6 with which they are directly associated. Thetransverse shifting of the end-resisting plate l2 can take place becauseof a yieldable transverselyextending spring l6, clearly indicated inFigure 2. The details of this end-resisting plate and its mode ofsupport are fundamentally the same as the corresponding parts shown inthe Bech patent heretofore mentioned.

The die press also includes a side-pressing plate 11 and an end-pressingplate I8. The endpressing plate l8 extends transversely of the press andit is mounted so that it is moved longitudinally in a forward directionduring a pressing operation over and along the bottom-supporting plate 6with which it is directly associated. One end of the end-pressing plateI8 is arranged close to the side-resisting plate i so that there is acooperative arrangement which always exists between the side-resistingplate and the end-pressing plate. The side-pressing plate [1 extendslongitudinally of the press; it is mounted so that it can move during apressing operation transversely in what may be termed an inwarddirection and so that it can shift longitudinally as the pressingoperation proceeds.

-As a matter of fact, this-side-pressing plate H is arranged so that therear end thereof always remains in close arrangement with respect to theend-pressing plate I8 due to the action of lug T8 and the side-pressingplate l'l moves in a longitudinal direction in accordance with thelongitudinal movements of the end-pressing plate IS. The end-resistingplate i2 is arranged so that what may be termed the outer end thereof ismaintained in close operative arrangement with respect to theside-pressing plate l1 and so that the end-resisting plate I2moves'transversely inwardly as the side-pressing plate I! movestransversely inwardly but the arrangement is also such that theside-pressing plate I! can. move longitudinally in respect to said outerend of the transversely-extending end-resisting plate H2.

The die press PD is completed by the toppressing plate l9 which iscarried from a top yoke 28 in such a manner that the top-pressing platecan move horizontally in either a longitudinal or transverse directionas the pressing operation proceeds. The yoke 28 is movable downwardly sothat as it moves downwardly, it can impart a downward pressing movementto the top-pressing plate l9 carried thereby. The operative arrangement,of this top-pressing plate in respect to the rest ,of the plates of thedie press is such that during the pressing operation one ,end and onesid of the top-pressing plate move downwardly along and in closearrangement with the pressing faces of the end-pressing plate l8 and theside-pressing plate H. The arrangement is also such that as the pressingoperation proceeds, the-underside or pressing surface of thetop-pressing plate l9 engages the top or upper edge portions of theside-resisting plate 1 and the end-resisting plate l2, whereby saidresisting plates are depressed according to the requirements of thepressing operation. The top-pressing plate H has mechanism associatedtherewith so that as the pressing operation proceeds, it moves in alongitudinal direction in accordance withthe longitudinal movement ofthe endpressing plate l8 and in a transverse direction in accordancewith the transverse movement of the side-pressing plate 11.

The mounting of the top-pressing plate IS on the yoke .carrying the sameis constructed so as 'to permit this longitudinal and transverseshifting of the top-pressing plate l8 according to the requirementsbecause of the transversely-extending grooved sli'deway constructionprovided at 2|, as is manifest from an inspection of Figure 1, andbecause of the longitudinally-extending grooved slideway construction22, as is manifest from an inspection of Figures 1 and 3. Thedescription of the mechanism whereby the pressing plates l1, l8 and I9receive their operative movements will be described under the headingOperating Mechanism. It will be noted that the die press of the presentapplication is of a construction wherein during a single pressingoperation the die press is contractible in'every direction no matterfrom what direction viewed. In short, this press is contractible in avertical direction, in a horizontal transverse direction, and in ahorizontal longitudinal direction, and it will be noted that the movablepressing plates of this press are all operated from a common source ofpower through a link and lever mechanism which causesand enables thedesired contraction of the press as the result of a single movement ofan operating plunger or member of the power-operating means. The pressdie just described may be described as a confining pressing die sincethe several parts composing the same are constructed and arranged sothat during all parts or steps of the pressing operation a piece beingpressed is always confined within and by the die which decreases in alldirections as the pressing operation proceeds.

The operating mechanism and the poweroperatzng means In Figures 1 and 3,it will be' noted that the lower side bars 2 of the main frame havesecured thereto and depending therefrom lower main bearing members 23 inwhich there are supported the ends 24 of a transversely-extending powertransmission shaft 25. This shaft 25 has thereupon a main crank arm 26constituting part of the operating mechanism therefor, the outer end 21of which crank arm is connected by a suitable member or connectingelement as 28 to a forward end of a rod 29 of a piston 30. This pistonis slidably mounted in an operating cylinder 3|. This cylinder has fluidunder pressure supplied thereto through a pipe 32 for actuating thepiston, the flow of which fluid through the pipe 32 to the cylinder 3|is under the control of a valve mechanism collectively designated as 33.That part of the mechanism just mentioned which includes the crank arm26, the connecting element 28, the piston 30, the cylinder 3|, and thevalve-controlled pipe 32 leading to the cylinder, collectively may bereferred to as the power-operating means PM. The mechanism whichincludes the shaft 25 and the parts operated therefrom for effectingmovement of the pressing plates i1, l8, and I9 may collectively bedesignated and considered as the operating mechanism QM, previouslyreferred to.

Reference to Figures 1, 2, and 3, and particularly to Figure 2,discloses the fact that the frame carriesbracket members 34 and 35, theformer of which may be referred to as a side bracket and the latter ofwhich may be referred to as an end bracket, and in which brackets, thereare slidably mounted what may be termed, respectively, side and endyoke-connecting and spacing rods, 36 and 31, which rods are more clearlyshown in Figures 1 and 3. It will be seen that on each bracket, there iscarried a spool member 38 which is shouldered or flanged at the lowerend. Each member 38 serves as a member to position and support the lowerend of a heavy coiled spring 39. To the lower ends of these rods, thereare connected ends 48 and 4| of a lower yoke 42 and to the upper ends ofthese rods, there are connected the ends 43 and 44 of the upper yokemember 20, previously referred to. The yoke members 29 and 42 extenddiagonally in respect to the pressing die PD and they are arranged forimpartingheavy pressing effects in a downward direction to and throughthe upper pressing plate I 9. The heavy coiled springs 39 aresufficiently strong and powerful to maintain in an elevated position theyokes and 42, and the parts carried thereby and connected thereto. Thesesprings 39 and the associated springs in the press are in factsufliciently powerful to return 7 the top-pressing plate IS, theassociated side and end-pressing plates l1 and I8, and the operativeparts associated with said pressing plates to their respective normalinoperative positions when allowed to do so after the completion of apressing operation.

The main or power-transmitting shaft carries a main operating arm 45constituting a part of the operating mechanism OM which is operated bythe power-operating mechanism through the medium of said shaft 25. Atthe free end 46 of the arm 45, there is connected a verticallyextendinglink 41 which constitutes a pulling element of the operating mechanismor what may be termed the main operating link mechanism. The upper end48 of this link 41 is pivotally connected to what may be termed theintermediate or central portion of a main floating or equalizing lever49. It will be noted, however, that this point of, connection is'nearerone end of the lever 49 than it is to the other end, whereby thereresults what may be called a main floating lever having a long and ashort arm. The short arm of this lever carries a ball and socket oruniversal joint connection 50, as is clearly indicated in Figures l and3, whereby from the short arm of the lever 49, there is a pivotalconnection to an intermediate or central section of what may be termed asecondary floating or equalizing lever 5| which likewise is connected insuch a manner as to pro,-

vide a short arm and a long arm therefor. The

,- end of the short arm of the secondary floating lever 5| is connectedby a suitable link 52 to the lower yoke member 42, previously described,as is manifest from an inspection of Figure 3. The mechanism whichincludes the floating lever 5|, the link 52, the yoke 42, and the partsbetween the yoke 42 and the top-pressing plate l9 may be collectivelyreferred to as the top-pressing plate link mechanism and which is partof the mechanism whereby the top-pressing plate is caused to movedownwardly as the main arm 45 'on the main shaft 25 is caused to swingin a downward direction underthe influence of the common power-operatingmeans PM.

The long arm of the secondary floating lever 5| is connected at 53 to avertically-extending link 54, the upper end of which link is connectedat 55 to an arm 56 of a bell crank lever 51 which is fulcrumed on ashaft 58 that is in turn pivotally mounted in bearing members 59 mountedon the main frame of the machine. This bell crank lever.51 includes anupstanding arm 60, the upper end of which is pivotally connected at 6|to a pin 62 that is mounted in-link 63 located at the outer end of asliding rod 64 having at the inner endthereof a longitudinally-extendingguideway 65 upon which the longitudinally-extending sidepressing plateI1 is mounted so that the sidepressing plate can shift in a longitudinaldirection as the pressing operation proceeds. Plate I 1 is held in closearrangement with plate I8 longitudinally extending rods during itssliding movement on, guideway 65 by means of lug 18. This rod 64through'the medium of the guideway portion 65 at the inner end thereofserves to force the side-pressing plate l1 transversely and inwardlyduring a pressing operation. This inward movement of the sidepressingplate is effected by the downward movement of the secondary floatinglever and the downward movement of the free end 53 of the long armthereof and the consequent corresponding movements of the partsconnecting the end 53 of the long arm to the rod 64 and the sidepressingplate H at the inner end thereof. This mechanism, which comprehends theend 53 of the secondary floating member 5| and the parts 54, 51, 62, 63,64, 65, et cetera, constitutes what may be collectively referred to asthe side-pressing plate link mechanism and because of the bell crankmember 51 therein, it may be referred to as a mechanism which includesas an essential part thereof a bell crank member.

The secondary floating lever 51 is centrally pivotally connected so thatit is free to float and adjustitself to pressure conditions, and itwill,

therefore, be manifest that both the top-pressingplate and theside-pressing plate can be moved thereby until one or the other isstopped because of undue pressure exerted thereagainst or because of thestop arrangements hereinafter described. Therefore, this floating lever5| may be considered as'a pressure-equalizing lever and this same remarkalso applies to the floating main lever 49.

Now, reverting to the main floating lever 49 and to Figures 1 and 5,wherein the same is clearly shown, it will be noted that the free end 66of the long arm thereof is pivotally connected to the lower end of anupwardly-extending link 61, the upper end of which is pivotallyconnected at 68 to the free end of an arm 69 of a bell crank lever orbell crank lever construction 10. This bell crank lever 10 is fulcrumedon a shaft 1L which is pivotally mounted in bearings 12 carried vby themain frame and the free end cf an upwardly-extending arm 13 of the bellcrank lever 10 is pivotally connected through the medium of a link 14 tothe rear end of a longitudinallyell) movable andlongitudinally-extending pusher member or rod 15, the forward end ofwhich is connected at 16 to the transversely-extending end-pressingplate Ill. The mechanism which includes the long arm of the floatinglever 49, the link 61, the bell crank lever 10, the link 14, and pushrod 15 to which the end-pressing plate I8 is connected, may be referredto as the endpressing plate link mechanism and it may be described ascomprehending a bell crank lever construction because of the inclusiontherein of the bell crank lever 10.

Referring now to Figures 1, '2, and 5, it will be observed thatstationary angle members 11 are provided for the reception of rods 8|carrying coilsprings 85. This pair of springs, 85 serves to normallyassist in retracting the end-pressing plate I8 to its rearwardmostposition when free to do so after a pressing operation has been carriedout. The angle members 11 previously mentioned being fixed, serve asabutments for the forward ends of the springs 85.

When pressure is asserted through link 14,

moving plate l8 and pusher rod 15 forwardly,

19, securely fastened to cross plate 80, compress coil springs 85. Plateis designed with apertures permitting the passage therethrough of rods8|. A'vertical yoke member 42.

pushing member 82 is provided on the end of plunger or pushing plate 15.Member 82 is designed to produce the endwise motion of top pressingplate 19. Guiding member 83 is mounted on vertical rod 82 so that it isfree to move vertically along the upright rod 82. Thistransversely-extending guideway 83 has slidably mounted therein atransversely-movable connecting member 84 which is directly secured tothe top-pressing plate in a manner whereby, due to the mechanism justdescribed, the top-pressing plate will move longitudinally in accordancewith the longitudinal movements of the end-pressing plate but so thetop-pressing plate can shift transversely as required in order to meetthe different conditions of the pressing operation. In other words, dueto the construction just described, the top-pressing plate is alwaysmaintained in proper operative position in respect to the end-pressingplate so that upon downward pressure being applied to the top-pressingplate, it can automatically move downwardly along the pressing face ofthe end-pressing plate.

Reference will now be made to Figures 2, 3 and 5 for showing anarrangement for effecting the transverse movement of the top-pressingplate as the side-pressing plate is moved. In the figures lastmentioned, it will be noted that stationary angle members 86 serve asspring abutments for coil springs 93 disposed on spaced parallellaterally extending rods 81. The design of the side-pressing retractingmechanism is identical to that of the end-pressing retracting mechanism.The forward movement of pusher plate 64 is retracted by the coil springs93. Mounted on plunger or pusher plate 64 is a vertical member 89 alongwhich there is a vertically sliding yoke member 98 which is connected torod 9| that are secured at 92 to the transversely-movable guidewaymember 22'and due to the construction just described, the top-pressingplate must move transversely in accordance with the transverse movementof the side-pressing plate I! but the arrangement is such that thetop-pressing plate is 'always maintained in a position whereby uponbeing .depressed, an edge portion thereof can move downwardly and incooperative relationship with respect to the pressing face of theside-pressing plate. Coiled compression springs 93 serve to assist inretracting the side-pressing plate and the parts associated therewithwhen free to do so at the end of a pressing operation.

Top-pressing plate stop The top-pressing plate stop, collectivelydesignated by TS, is shown in Figures 1 and 2 and it collectivelycomprises a depending bracket member 94, the upper end of which isfixedly secured to the main frame of the machine as through suitableconnecting bolts 85, and the lower end of which is screw-threaded as at96 for the reception of an adjusting stop screw 91. This adjusting screwis in line with the lower end of the rod 31 or, in other words, in linewith the axis of the opening at the end 40 of the lower yoke member 42.The lower end of the rod 31 and the holding nut 98 thereuponcollectively constitute what may be termed as a movable stop member thatis carried by the lower At the upper end of the adjusting stop screw 91,there is mounted a lower stop member 99 which is relatively stationarybut which can bevertically adjusted according to the requirements. Atthe upper end of this member 99, there is carried a removable part 99.There may be a number of these parts 99 of different depths orthicknesses and these may be used and selected one block at a time,according to the desired thickness required for the final product. Inother words, by employing the proper member 99, one can regulate ordetermine the thickness or depth of the resulting product as pressedbetween the lower-supporting plate 6 on the one hand and thetop-pressing plate I9 on the other hand.

The structure just referred to constitutes what is herein termed as thetop-pressing plate stop because its direct function is to limit thedownward movement of the top-pressing plate and thereby determine theextent of its pressing operation. One or more of these stops may beemployed, as desired.

Side-pressing plate stop There are blocks IOI which are rigidly butdetachably secured to the sliding plunger or pusher plate 64. Thesedetachably secured blocks llll may be secured in place as by means ofpegs I82 rigidly fastened to the blocks and adapted to fit snugly intothe holes in the plunger member. By such a fastening means, these blocksIOI may be easily and quickly changed. The purpose thereof and thedesirability of changing them are to provide an adjustable control meansfor regulating the length of the stroke of the side-pressing plateplunger 64. In operating the side plunger, it will be noted that it willmove inwardly toward the center of the press until the blocks llllstrike the bridge or stationary. stop member Hill, at which point theside plunger can and will come to rest, thereby limiting the side ortransverse compression of the bacon slab or other product being pressedand thereby controlling the transverse dimension thereof.

For different weight classifications of bacon slabs, it will benecessary to have this transverse dimension variable and this isaccomplished by providing blocks ll of different lengths for limitingthe compression in a transverse direction of the bacon slabs beingpressed.

General From what has preceded, it will be manifest that by adjustingthe stop member 99, or, in other words, by properly selecting therequired block member 99" therefor, the vertical dimension of the finalproduct can be controlled. By properly selecting the side blocks lfll,the transverse dimension of the resulting product can be controlled, anddue to the floating leveror equalizing lever-construction described, itwill be manifest that the press can operate in such a manner that it isimmaterial which stop first comes into play to function in stopping themovement of the part controlledthereby. It will be apparent that it ispossible for the toppressing plate to come to final pressing position;that it is possible for the side-pressing plate to thereafter come tofinal pressing position; and for these movements to be followed by afurther compressing, due'tothe end-pressing plate continuing to move.Consequently, when the desired pressing effect has been carried out,there is produced a product of predetermined thickness, of predeterminedtransverse dimension or width, but of indefinite length, to wit, of alength according to the volume of material in the particular productbeing pressed.

Where bacon is being pressed, the fixed crosssectional dimensions willbe classified according to the number of slices per unit of weight andapproximate width of the bacon slabs being pressed. With thisclassification, it will be necessary only to change the side-pressingplate stops to meet the classification and it will not be necessary tochange these blocks for each piece of bacon that is pressed, providedthe bacon has been classified into groups and all the individual piecesin a given group are pressed before operating on another group. It isquite feasible to have the press accompanied by a simple table whichwill instruct the operator as to the proper combination of the blocksI0! and 99 to be used for the control of the motion of the side-pressingplate plunger and the top-pressing plate for each given classificationof bacon. In the form of machine shown, a single top-pressing plate stopis illustrated. It will be manifest, however, that it will be feasibleto use a duplicate set of these top-pressing plate stops, for example,one at each end of the lower yoke 42.

What is claimed is:

1. In a press having a stationary bottom die plate, depressibleside-resisting and end-resisting plates, slidable side-pressing andend-pressing plates, and a top-pressing plate, each of said side and endplates and said top-pressing plate being in operative relation with saidstationary plate;

a common operating means comprising a main floating lever having apivotal movement on an axis located intermediate the ends of the mainfloating lever and forming a long arm and a short arm; a secondaryfloating lever also having pivotal movement on an axis locatedintermediate the ends of the secondary floating lever and forming a longarm and a short arm; a toppressing plate link mechanism; a side-pressingplate link mechanism; an end-pressing plate link mechanism; a mainoperating lever mechanism; and an operating cylinder and piston, thepiston being connected to one portion of the main linkoperatingmechanism; the main floating link having the central or intermediatesection thereof pivotally connected to another portion of the mainlink-operating mechanism, the end-pressing plate link mechanism servingas a means whereby the long lever arm of the main floating link isconnected to the end-pressing plate so as to effect pressingmovement ofthe latter, which end-pressing plate link mechanism includes a bellcrank lever as a part of the train of said link mechanism, the secondaryfloating lever having the central or intermediate portion thereofpivotally connected to the short lever arm of the main floating lever,the top-pressing plate link mechanism serving as means for connectingthe short arm of the secondary floating lever with the members thatimpart downward pressing movement to the top-pressing plate, thesidepressing plate link mechanism serving as means to connect a long armof the said floating-secondary lever to the side-pressing plate, whichside-pressing plate link mechanism includes a bell crank lever'as a partof said link mechanism.

2. In a press having a stationary bottom die plate, depressibleside-resisting and end-resisting plates, slidable side-pressing andend-pressing plates, and a top-pressing plate, each of said side and endplates and said top-pressing plate being in operative relation with saidstationary plate; a power operating mechanism common to the pressingplates having a single controlling device and comprising a main floatinglever having pivotal movement on an axis intermediate the ends of themain floating lever and forming a long arm and a short arm; an operatingcylinder; a piston therein; a bell crank mechanism, one arm of which isoperated by the piston and the other arm of which is connected to themain floating lever; a secondary floating lever; a toppressing platelink mechanism; a side-pressing plate link mechanism; an end-pressingplate link mechanism; the end-pressing plate link mechanism beingassociated with the long lever arm of the main floating link and servingas the means through which the end-pressing plate is moved to fullpressing position; the secondary floating lever being pivotallysupported by and carried from the short arm of the main floating lever;the top-pressing plate link mechanism being associated with one arm ofthe secondary lever and serving as means through which the toppressingplate is moved downwardly to full pressing position; the side-pressingplate link mechanism being associated with another arm of the secondarylever and serving as means through which the side-pressing plate ismoved to full pressing position.

3. In a press, the combination with a contractible die having aplurality of movable pressing elements, of an equalizing lever mechanismincluding longitudinal and transverse floating levers through which thepressing forces are transmitted from a common source of operating powerto the movable pressing elements.

4. In a press having a stationary bottom die plate, depressiblesideeresisting and end-resisting plates, slidable side-pressing andend-pressing plates, and a top-pressing plate, each of said side and endplates and said top-pressing plate being in operative relation with saidstationary plate; a common-operating means mounted on the frame andhaving an operating member extending therefrom, a main floating lever,the intermediate portion of which is operatively connected with saidoperating member so as to provide the main floating lever with a shortarm and a long arm, a secondary floating lever, the intermediate portionof which is operatively connected with the short arm of the main leverso as to provide the secondary lever with a short arm and a long arm,three sets of connecting means, one of which sets serves to connect theshort arm of the secondary floating lever with one of the movablepressing plates, another of which sets serves to connect the long arm ofthe secondary lever with another of the movable pressing plates, and thethird set of whichserves to connect the long arm of the main floatinglever with the other of the movable pressing plates, two of said movablepressing plates having associated therewith movable stop elements, eachof which movable stop elements cooperates with a correspondingstationary stop element secured to the frame, said stationary stopelements being arranged so that as a pressing operation proceeds the twopressing plates having the movable stop elements associated therewithmay be automatically stopped against further pressing movement but underconditions which allow a movement of the other pressing element to fullpressing position.

5. In a press having a stationary bottom die plate, depressibleside-resisting and end-resisting plates, slidable side-pressing andend-pressing plates, and a top-pressing plate, each of said side and endplates and said top-pressing plate being in operative relation with saidstationary plate; a common operating mechanism for effecting during asingle operation thereof-movement of the movable plates including meansfor moving the top-pressing plate towards the stationary plate, meansfor moving the side-pressing plate towards the side-resisting plate, andmeans for moving the end-pressing plate towards the end-resisting plate.

6. In a press having a stationary bottom die plate, depressible.side-resisting and end-resisting plates, slidable side-pressing andend-pressing plates, and a top-pressing plate, each of said side and endplates and said top-pressing plate being in operative relation with saidstationary plate; a common operating means for efiecting during a singleoperation thereof the movement of the toppressing plate towards thestationary plate, of the side-pressing plate towards the side-resistingplate, and of the end-pressing plate towards the end-resisting plate, aset of stop elements, one of which elements is associated with one ofthe pressing plates and the other of which is stationary, one of saidstop elements being positioned in respect to the plate by which it iscarried whereby the extent of pressing operation by the particular platewith which the stop element is operatively associated can be regulated.

7. In a press having a stationary bottom die plate, depressibleside-resisting and end-resisting plates, slidable side-pressing andend-pressing plates, and a top-pressing plate, each of said side and endplates and said top-pressing plate being in operative relation with saidstationary plate;

1 a power operating means common to said pressing plates, saidcommon-operating means comprising a main floating lever, a memberpivotallyconnected with the main floating lever intermediate the endsthereof for forcibly moving the main floating lever towards fullpressing position, link mechanism operatively connected with one end ofthe main floating lever for moving to pressing position one of thepressing plates, a secondary floating lever pivotally connectedintermediate its ends with the other end of the main floating lever,mechanism operatively connected with one end of the secondary floatinglever for eflecting movement to pressing position of another of saidpressing plates, and means operatively connected with the other end ofthe secondary-floating lever for effecting movement to pressing positionof the third of said pressing plates.

8. In a-pressas definedin and by claim '7, two

sets of stops one of which sets is associated with the top-pressingplate and a stationary part, to

wit, the frame of the press, and the other of which sets is associatedwith the side-pressing plate and a stationary part, to wit, the frame ofthe press.

9. In a press having a stationary bottom die plate, depressibleside-resisting and end-resisting plates, slidable side-pressing andend-pressing plates, and a top-pressing plate, each of said side and endplates and said top-pressing plate being in operative relation with saidstationary plate; a common operating means for eifecting pressingmovement of the top-pressing plate, the sidepressing plate and theend-pressing plate, and means for operatively positioning-saidtop-pressing plate with relation to said side-pressing and end-pressingplates throughout the operation of said common operating means.

10. In a press having a stationary bottom die plate, depressibleside-resisting and end-resisting plates, slidable side-pressing andend-pressing plates, and a top-pressing plate, each of said side and endplatesand said top-pressing plate being in operative relation with saidstationary plate; a common operating mechanism including a floatinglever and means operatively connected with the floating lever andactuated by the same during a single operation of the said mechanism forefiecting movement of the said pressing plates.

11. In a press having a stationary bottom die plate, depressibleside-resisting and end-resisting plates, slidable side-pressing andend-pressing plates, and a top-pressing plate, each of said side and endplates and said top-pressing plate being in operative relation with saidstationary plate; a common operating mechanism including a float lever,means operatively connected with the floating lever and actuated by thesame during a single operation of said mechanism for effecting movementof said pressing plates and two sets of stops, one of which sets isassociated with one of the pressing plates and. a stationary part of thepress, the other of which sets is associated with another of thepressing plates and a stationary part of the press, each of which setsis constructed so as to provide a positionable stop member.

12. In a press having a stationary bottom die plate, depressibleside-resisting and end-resisting plates, slidable side-pressing andend-pressing plates, and a top-pressing plate, each of said side and endplates and said toppressing plate being in operative relation with saidstationary top-pressing plate with relation to said side pressing andend-pressing plates throughout the operation of said common operatingmeans.

13. In a press having a stationary bottom die plate, depressibleside-resisting and end-resisting plates, slidable side-pressing andend-pressing plates, and a top-pressing plate, each of said side and endplates and said top-pressing plate being in operative relation with saidstationary plate; a power operating means common to said pressingplates, said common operating means comprising a floating lever that ispivotally connected intermediate its ends to aomember which forciblymoves the floating lever toward full pressing position, from one end ofwhich floating lever one of said pressing plates is operated, and fromthe other end of which floating lever the other pressing plates areoperated.

14. In a press having a stationary bottom die plate, depressibleside-resisting and end-resisting plates, slidable side-pressing andend-pressing plates, and a top-pressing plate, each of said side and endplates and said top-pressing plate being in operative relation with saidstationary plate; a common operating means having a single controllingdevice for actuating said movable pressing plates and for forcing thesame toward full pressing position, means associated with said opcratingmeans for operatively positioning said top pressing plate with relationto said side-pressing and end-pressing plates throughout the operationof said common operating meansand automatically operable auxiliary meanscooperating with said actuating means for returning the movable pressingplates to their initial position.

15. In a press having a stationary bottom die plate, depressibleside-resisting and end-resisting plates, slidable side-pressing andend-pressing plates, and a top-pressing plate, each of said side and endplates and said top-pressing plate being in operative relation with saidstationary plate; a common operating means having a single controllingdevice for forcing said movable pressing plates in a manner to effect acontracting of the die in all directions as the pressing operationproceeds, means associated with said operating means for operativelypositioning said top-pressing plate with relation to said sidepressingand end-pressing plates throughout the operation of said commonoperating means and automatically operable yieldable means cooper atingwith the common operating means to return the pressing elements to theirinitial position.

16. In a press having a stationary bottom die plate, depressibleside-resisting and end-resisting plates, slidable side-pressing andend-pressing plates, and a top-pressing plate, each of said side and endplates and said top-pressing plate being in operative relation with saidstationary plate; a pressing cylinder having a piston operativelymounted therein, and operating means whereby from said piston saidpressing plates are moved to full pressing position, said operatingmeans comprising a main floating or compensating lever operatively movedby said piston, a secondary floating or compensating lever operativelymoved by one arm of the main lever, means for connecting another arm ofthe main lever to one of the movable pressing plates, and means forconnecting the ends of the secondary lever to the other of said movablepressing plates.

17. In a press having a stationary bottom die plate, depressibleside-resisting and end-resist-' ing plates, slidable side-pressing andend-pressing plates, and a top-pressing plate, each of said side and endplates and said top-pressing plate being in operative relation with saidstationary plate; a pressing cylinder having a piston operativelymounted therein, and operating means whereby from said piston saidpressing plates are moved to full pressing position, said operatingmeans comprising a main floating or compensating lever operatively movedby said piston, a secondary floating or compensating lever operativelymovedby one arm of the main lever, means for connecting another arm ofthe main lever to one of the movable pressing plates, means forconnecting the ends of the secondary lever to the other of said movablepressing plates, and two sets of stop elements, one stop element of eachof the'sets being positionable, one of which sets has a stop elementoperatively associated with one of the pressing plates while the otherstop element thereof is mounted on the frame, and the other of whichsets'has a stop element operatively associated with another of the otherpressing plates while the other stop element thereof is mounted on theframe.

18. In a press having a stationary bottom die' plate, depressibleside-resisting and end-resisting plates, slidable side-pressing andend-pressing plates, and a top-pressing plate, each of said side and endplates and said top-pressing plate a being in operative relation withsaid stationary plate; an equalizing lever mechanism including aplurality of floating levers through which the I pressing forces aretransmitted from a common source of operating power to the movablepressing plates and a set of positionable stop elements, one of whichstop elements is operatively associated with one of the pressing platesand the other of which is mounted on a stationary part of said press.

19. In a press having a stationary bottom die plate, depressible,side-resisting and end-resisting plates, slidable side-pressing andend-pressing plates,.a top-pressing plate, each of said side and endplates and said top pressing plate being in operative relation with saidstationary plate and means for slidably mounting said top-pressing plateto provide sidewise and endwise movement of said plate while beingpressed; guide means controlled by the movement of said sidepresslng andendpressing plates for moving said top-pressing plate to maintain apositive operative relation between said side-pressing and end-pressingplates throughout the pressing movement.

20. In a press having a stationary bottom die plate, depressiblesideresisting and end-resisting plates, slidable side-pressing andend-pressing plates, a top-pressing plate, each of said side I and endplates and said top-pressing plate being in operative relation with saidstationary plate and means tor slidably mounting said top-pressing plateto provide sidewise and endwise movement of said plate while beingpressed; guide means controlled by the movement of said sidepressing andend-pressing plates for moving said top-pressing plate to maintain apositive operative relation between said side-pressing and endpressingplates throughout the pressing movement and a set of positionable stopelements, one of which stop elements is operatively associated with oneof the pressing plates and the other of which is mounted on a stationarypart of the press.

21. In a press having a stationary bottom die plate, depressibleside-resisting and end-resisting plates, slidable side-pressing andend-pressing plates, a top-pressing plate, each of said side and endplates and said top-pressing plate being in operative relation with saidstationary plate and means for slidably mounting said top-pressing plateto provide sidewise and endwise movement of said plate while beingpressed; guide means controlled by the movement of said side-pressingand end-pressing plates for moving said toppressing plate to maintain apositive operative relation between said side-pressing and endpressingplates throughout the pressing movement, and two sets of stops, one ofwhich sets is associated withone of the pressing plates and a stationarypart of the press, the other of which sets is associated with another ofthe pressing plates and a stationary part of the press, each of whichsets is constructed so as to provide a positionable stop member.

22. In a press having a stationary bottom die plate, depressibleside-resisting and end-resisting plates, slidable side-pressing andend-pressing plates, a top-pressing plate, each of said side and endplates and said top-pressing plate being in operative relation with'saidstationary plate and means for slidably mounting said top-pressing plateto provide sidewise and endwise movement of said plate while beingpressed; guide means controlled by the movement of said sidepressing andend-pressing plates for moving said top-pressing plate to maintain apositive operaland end-pressing aovaeos tive relation between saidside-pressing and endpressing plates throughout the pressing movementand automatically operable yieldable means associated with saidside-pressing and endpressing plates to" return said side-pressing andend-pressing plates to their initial position after completion of thepressing movement, which yieldable means through said guide means alsoserve to return said top-pressing plate to its initial sidewise andendwise position after completion of the pressing movement. f,

23. In a press having a stationary bottom die plate, depressibleside-resisting and end-resisting plates, slidable side-pressing andend-pressing plates, a top-pressing plate, each of said side and endplates and said top-pressing plate being in operative relation with saidstationary plate and means for slidably mounting said top-pressing plateto provide sidewise and endwise movement of said plate while beingpressed; means operable from a common source of power for eiiectingpressing movement of said side-pressing, end-- pressing and top-pressingplates, and guide means controlled by the movement of said sidepressing.and end-pressing plates for moving said top-pressing plate to maintain apositive operative relation between said side-pressing and endpressingplates throughout the pressing move-' ment, said guide means comprisinga guide rod rigidly secured to said side-pressing means and saidtop-pressing plate and a guide rod rigidly secured to said end-pressingmeans and slidably connected to said top-pressing plate.

24. In a press having a stationary bottom die plate, depressibleside-resisting and end-resisting plates, slidable side-pressing andend-pressing plates, a top-pressing plate, each oi said side and endplates and said top-pressing plate being in operative relation with saidstationary plate and means for slidably mounting said top-pressing plateto provide sidewise and endwise move-' ment of said plate while beingpressed; means operable from a common source of power for eiiectingpressing movement of said side-pressing, end-pressing and top-pressingplates, guide means controlled by the movement of said sidepressing andend-pressing plates for moving said top-pressing plate to maintain apositive operative relation between said side-pressing and endpressingplates throughout the pressing movement, said guide means comprising aguide rod rigidly secured to said side-pressing means and saidtop-pressing plate and a guide rod rigidly secured to said end-pressingmeans and slidably connected to said top-pressing plate, and a set ofpositionable stop elements, one of which stop elements is operativelyassociated with one of the pressingv plates and the other of which ismounted on a stationary part of the press.

25. In a press having a stationary bottom die a plate, depressibleside-resisting and end-resisting plates, slidable side-pressing andend-pressing plates, a top-pressing plate, each of said side and endplates and said top-pressing plate being in operative relation with saidstationary plate and means for slidably mounting said top-pressing plateto provide sidewise and endwise movement oi said plate while beingpressed; means operable from a common source of power for effectingpressing movement of-said side-pressing, endpressing and top-pressingplates, guide means controlled by the movement 0! said side-pressingplates for moving said topmaintain a positive operative pressing plateto said side-pressing and endrelation between part pressing platesthroughout the pressing 'r novement, said guide means eompriginfa guiderod rigidly secured to said side pressing means and said top-pressingplate/and a guide rod rigidly secured to said end-pressing means andslidably connected to said top-pressing plate, andautomatically/operable yieldable means associated with/saidside-pressing and end-pressing plates plates to their initial positionafter completion or the pressing movement, which yieldable means throughsaid guide means also serve to return said top-pressing plate toits'initial sidewise and endwise position after completion of thepressing movement.

26. In a press having a stationary bottom die plate, depressibleside-resisting and end-resist1n8 plates, slidable side-pressing andend-pressing plates, and a top-pressing plate, each 0! said side and endplates and said top-pressing plate being in operative relation with saidstationary plate; a common operating means having a single controllingdevice for actuating said movable pressing plates and for forcing thesame toward full pressing position, and means associated with saidoperating means for operatively positioning said top-pressing plate withrelation to saidside-pressing and end-pressing plates throughout theoperation of said common operating means.

'27. In a press having a stationary bottom die plate, depressibleside-resisting and end-resisting plates, slidable side-pressing andend-pressing plates, and a top-pressing plate, each of said side and endplates and said top-pressing plate being in operative relation with saidstationary plate; a common operating means having a single controllingdevice for forcing said movable pressing plates in a manner to eflect acontracting of the die in all directions as the pressing operationproceeds, and means associated with said operating means for operativelypositioning said toppressing plate with relation to said side-pressingand end-pressing plates throughout the operation of said commonoperating means.

28. In a press having a stationary bottom die plate, depressibleside-resisting and end-resisting plates, slidable side-pressing andend-pressing plates, and a top-pressing plate, each of said side and endplates and said top-pressing plate being in operative relation with saidstationary plate; a set of stop elements, one of which elements isassociated with one of the pressing plates and the other of which isstationary, one of said stop elements being positioned in respect to theplate by which it is carried whereby the extent of pressing operation bythe particular plate with which the stop element is operativelyassociated can be regulated.

29. In a press having a stationary bottom die plate, depressibleside-resisting and end-resisting plates, slidable side-pressing andend-pressing plates, and a top-pressing plate, each of said side and endplates and-said top-pressing plate being in operative relation with saidstationary plate; two sets of stops, one of which sets is associatedwith one oi the pressing plates and a stationary of the press, the otherof which sets is associated with another of the pressing plates and astationary part of the press, each of which sets is constructed so as toprovide a positionable stop member.

CHARLES T. WALTER.

' .to return said side-pressing and end-pressing CERTIFICATE OFCORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,072,694. March 2, 1937.

CHARLES T. WALTER.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 1first column, line 24, for the patent number "2,046,366" read 2,043,366;page '7, second column, line 19, claim 11, for the word "float" readfloating; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with thesecorrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the casein the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 20th day of April, A. D. 1937.

Henry Van Arsdale (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

